By Darcy Kaye, Chair of Search Committee, Bronxville Public Library
Feb. 10, 2016: The board of trustees of the Bronxville Public Library announced the appointment of Gregory ("Greg") Wirszyla as the new director of the Bronxville Public Library.
Mr. Wirszyla comes to Bronxville from the Mamakating Library in Wurtsboro, New York, where he served as director from 2011. Mr. Wirszyla was at the Bronxville Public Library on Thursday, February 4, and was introduced to the community by Mayor Marvin at the village's trustees' meeting on Monday, February 8.
He has jumped right in and reported, "I am excited to get to know the community, library patrons, and staff and to work closely with the board of trustees to bring a high level of customer satisfaction with the materials and services the library can provide."
Mr. Wirszyla holds an MS Ed in adolescent education, an MLIS in library and information science, and a BA in history. He has worked in several public libraries. As the library director at Mamakating, he supervised the construction of a new library building, incorporated emerging technologies, and built strong relationships with the school and local communities. An avid reader with a focus on history, Mr. Wirszyla shares Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich's view that "reading is a discount ticket to everywhere."
The board of trustees is delighted that Mr. Wirszyla has brought his broad experience and enthusiasm to Bronxville. President Sarah Underhill said, "We are looking forward to working with Greg and our dedicated staff to continue the library's outstanding services and programs and take them to the next level. Greg understands that the library is at the heart of our community as a cultural center in addition to providing excellent resources through our staff and collections and is eager to expand on those relationships."
Mr. Wirszyla will have the support of the interim director, Christine Utchel, as he begins his new role. Ms. Utchel stepped into the role of interim director in May and has seen the library through a number of new projects in her eight-month tenure. She leaves the library in excellent shape as she resumes her previous position as adult reference librarian.
Pictured here: Greg Wirszyla, the new director of the Bronxville Public Library.
Photo by A. Warner
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
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Bronxville Police Department
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Bronxville Parking Violations
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400